Idioms exercise
Each of the following sentences contains an idiomatic expression. From the given options select the one that correctly expresses the meaning of the idiom.
1. To eat humble pie is
to apologize humbly
to retract your words
to come to a compromise with somebody
2. To meet trouble halfway is
to worry about it before it comes
to deal with a situation effectively
to fail to deal with a situation
3. If someone is not worth their salt, they are
quite worthless
quite foolish
quite rude
4. To win your spurs is
to become less powerful
to earn reputation
to take a resolute stand
5. To take exception to your remark is
to recommend it
to object to it
to take revenge
6. To put a spoke in somebody’s wheel is
to help them in the execution of their plans
to thwart them in the execution of their plans
to deceive them
7. If something happens in the nick of time, it happens
at the right moment
at the last moment
at an earlier date
8. To put your oar in is
to join a conversation
to offer your opinion when you are not expected to do so
to boast about your achievements
to ignore another person
9. To sing the blues is
to complain
to praise
to read aloud
to shout
10. To jump in feet first is
to act without thinking
to approach a task with little hesitation
to accept the responsibility
to refuse to take risks
11. To put the screws on someone is
to treat them badly
to threaten them with dire consequences so that they will do what you want them to do
to deal with them kindly
to make them work hard
12. To go cap in hand is
to go on a picnic
to beg for money or forgiveness
to enjoy the day
to make a great effort to do something
Answers
1. To eat humble pie is to apologize humbly.
2. To meet trouble halfway is to worry about it before it comes.
3. If someone is not worth their salt, they are quite worthless.
4. To win your spurs is to earn reputation.
5. To take exception to a remark is to object to it.
6. To put a spoke in somebody’s wheel is to thwart them in the execution of their plans.
7. If something happens in the nick of time, it happens at the right moment.
8. To put your oar in is to offer your opinion when you are not expected to do so.
9. To sing the blues is to complain.
10. To jump in feet first is to approach a task with little hesitation
11. To put the screws on someone is to threaten them with dire consequences so that they will do what you want them to do.
12. To go cap in hand is to beg for money or forgiveness.
